DJ Reed joined the Aspen Strategy Group after earning his MA in International Security from George Mason University. During his graduate studies, he served as a research analyst at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP). In this role, he produced historical grantmaking reports and supported research projects for the Vice President of Civic Engagement and Scholarship. DJ also helped execute the Peace Scholar Fellowship Program in partnership with the Minerva Research Initiative. Before USIP, he worked as a policy outreach associate at the Mercatus Center, focusing on state, federal, and external relations. In 2022, he graduated from Boston University with a BA in International Relations and a minor in Business Administration and Management. DJ was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and enjoys doing street calisthenics in his free time.